Electric switch



Jan. 20, 1931. H. E. NORVIEL 1,789,708

ELECTRIC swmca Filed Aug. 5, 192'!- Patented Jan. 20, 1931 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE HARRY E. NORVIEL, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TODELCO-REMY CORPORA- TION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWAREELECTRIC SWITCH Application filed August 5, 1927. Serial No. 210,906.

This invention relates to electrical switches particularly forcontrolling electrical circuits of an automobile.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the construction ofand reduce the cost of manufacture of switches of this type.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the presentinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a switch embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a back view thereof.

F Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 is a sectionalview on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, 20 designates a pressed sheet metal switchmounting bracket having hooked ears 21 for engaging angle bars 22 whichare supported adjacent the back of an instrument board 23 and spaced soslightly therefrom to support other instruments which are mounted uponthe instru ment board. The bracket 20 has pressed therein a tubular part24 providing the cfvlindrical side wall of a switch case. The ront wallof the switch case is provided by a dial plate 25 which is secured tothe bracket 20 by a bezel ring 26 having a fiat flange 27 engaging thefront face of the bracket 20. The flange 27 is secured to the bracket 20by providing the former with ears 28 which are elliptical opening in theinstrument board 23.

The back of the switch case is provided by nonconducting block or switchback 31 carrying tapped tubular rivets 32, each providing one of theswitch terminals for receivin a screw which attaches a wire thereto. Eac

rivet 32 is provided with a conical recess 33 providing a stationaryswitch contact which is engaged by one or more movable contacts providedby the spherical bosses 34 on the switch contact fingers 35 integralwith a rotary contact plate 36. The contact plate 36 is driven by acontact carrier which comprises nonconducting plates 37 and 38 which arerigidly secured to the shank 39 of a stud 40, the shank being rivetedagainst a washer 41 which bears against the plate 38. Loose rivets 42pass through holes in the block 37 and the plate 36 and each rivet has ahead 43 received by a hole 44 in the plate 38, and a head 45 received bya recess 46 in the plate 36. The plates 38 and 37 are supported forrotation by providing the block 31 with a hole 47 which receives with arunning fit the stud 40 so that the block 31 provides a bearing for thestud. The plates 37 and 38 are also supported by an operating handle 50having its hub 51 rotatably supported by an aperture 52 in the plate 25concentric with the tubular case portion 24. The hub 51 of handle 50 isprovided with tangs 53 (see Fig. 4) which are received by rectangularopenings 54 in the plate 38. In this way the plate 38 is supported bythe hub 51 as well as by the switch back 31 and is driven by the handle50. The hub 51 of the handle is provided with flanges 55, 56 and 57which engage the inner surface of the dial plate 25 and prevent removalof the handle from the switch. The spherical contacts 34 are eachyieldingly urged toward the switch back 31 by a coil spring 60 havingone end. seated in the semispherical depression 61 provided by eachcontact 34 and its other end seated in a cup-shaped member 62 receivedby a suitable hole in the plate 37 and extending partly into a hole 63in the plate 38 which provides clear ance for a part of the spring seatmember 62. The handle 50 is resiliently maintained in its differentoperating positions on, dim, ofi, park, by the cooperation of thespherical contacts 34 with one or more of the conical recesses 33 in thetubular rivets 32.

The switch is constructed by makin a sub-assembly of the bracket 20, thedial p ate 25 and the bezel ring 26, a sub-assembly of the movableswitch parts shown in Fig. 6,.namely the plates 37 and 38, the contactplate 36 and the stud 40, and another sub-assembly including a switchback 31 and terminal members secured thereto. These sub-assemblies areassembled after the switch handle 50 has been inserted through theopening 52 from the rear of the dial plate 25 so that the handleoccupies the position relative to the dial plate shown in Fig. 3. Whenthis has been done the switch contact assembly shown in Fig. 6 is movedinto the switch case and inserted over the tangs 53 of the switchhandle. Then the switch back assembly is attached to the switch case 24by the tangs which extend rearwardly from the switch case member 24 andenter notches 71 in the edge of the switch back 31, the tangs being bentover at 72 against the back member 31 when assembled, thus putting thefour coil springs 60 under slight compression.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electric switch comprising, in combination, an open backstationary casing and a front dial plate having an aperture thereinfixed together to form a sub-assembly; a switch handle having a hubportion rotatably supported within said aperture and a flan e engagingsaid dial plate, the handle driving y engaging a second sub-assemblycomprising an insulation plate and a switch contact plate mountedthereupon, said insulation plate and contact late being urged axiallyapart by a series 0 coil springs spaced therebetween; a thirdsub-assembly comprising an insulated switch back having a series ofstationary contacts engageable by said contact plate, said springs alsourging the handle flange against the dial plate, and the contact plateagainst the switch back.

2. An electric switch comprising, in combination, an open backstationary casing and a front dial plate having an aperture thereinfixed together to form a sub-assembly; a switch handle having a hubportion rotatably supported within said aperture and a flange preventingwithdrawal of the handle through said aperture; a second sub-assemblycomprising a pair of insulation plates and a switch contact platemounted thereupon, a rivet securing said insulation lates together andproviding a pivot post or said second sub-assembl said insulation platesand contact plate eing urged axially apart, and said flange being urgedagainst the dial plate by a series of 0011 springs; a third sub-assemblycomprising an insulated switch back having a series of stationarycontacts in the form of tapped tubular rivets engageable by said contactplate, said second sub-assembly being supported in position byattachment to said hub portion and by said pivot post bearing in saidswitch back.

3. In an electric switch, the combination comprising, a mounting bracketplate, a switch case having a cylindrical wall integral with said plate,a dial plate attached to said mountin plate, a handle having a bearingin the dlal 'plate, and a flange engaging the dial plate to preventwithdrawal, and switch contacts in the case controlled by said handle.

4. In an electric switch, the combination comprising, a mounting bracketplate, a switch case having a cylindrical wall integral with said plate,a dial plate attached to said mounting plate, a handle having a bearingin the dial plate, and a flange engaging the dial 'plate to preventwithdrawal, a movable switch contact in the case, and a spring forurging the movable contact against stationary contacts and the handleflange against the dial late.

5. 11 an electric switch, the combination comprising, a mounting bracketplate, a switch case having a cylindrical wall integral with said plate,a dial plate attached to said mountin plate, a handle having a bearingin the dial plate and a flange engaging the dial plate to preventwithdrawal, a switch back closing said case and a contact carrier withinthe case to be driven by said handle.

6. In an electric switch, the combination comprising, a mounting bracketplate, a switch case having a cylindrical wall integral with said plate,a dial plate attached to said mounting plate, a handle having a bearingin the dial plate, and a flange engaging the dial plate to preventwithdrawal, a switch back closing said case, and a contact carrierwithin the case to be driven by said handle, said contact carriercomprising a pair of discs .secured together by a rivet, said rivetproviding a pivot post and journalled in the switch back.

7. In an electric switch, the combination comprising, a mounting bracketplate, a. switch case having a cylindrical wall integral with saidplate, a dial plate attached to said mounting plate, a handle having abearing in the dial plate, and a flange engaging the dial plate toprevent withdrawal, a switch back closing said case, and a contactcarrier within the case to be driven by said handle,

and a spring for urging said contact carrier against the switch back andthe handle flange against the dial plate.

8. In an electric switch, the combination comprising, a mounting bracketplate, a switch case having a cylindrical wall integral with said plate,a dial plate attached to said mountin plate, a handle having a bearingin the ial plate, and a flange engaging the dial plate to preventwithdrawal, 2. switch back closing said case, a contact carrier withinthe case to be driven by said handle, said contact carrier comprising apair of discs secured together by a rivet, said rivet Froviding a pivotpost and journalled in t 1e switch back, and a spring for urging saidcontact carrier against the switch back and the handle flange againstthe dial plate.

9. In an electric switch, the combination comprising, a case having afront wall, a bearing in the wall for a switch handle, said handlehaving a flange engaging inside of front wall, circuit closin meanswithin the case connected with the andle, and means urging the handleflange against the front wall only.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

HARRY E. NORVIEL.

